RACVB finalized new TID bylaws

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 1:14 PMFeb 7, 2013 at 1:20 PM

Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s board of directors approved a long-anticipated item that would benefit the organization.The board approved the updated RACVB bylaws to include changes for the Ridgecrest Tourism Improvement District.

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

“We’re at a point now where we can nickel and dime it, but we can vote on them,” said RACVB Board Chair Janis Bottorff.RACVB Executive Director Doug Lueck indicated any additional changes could be made within 30 days of approving the bylaws.The amended bylaws better define the tourism improvement district, which incorporate all of Ridgecrest’s hotels.When the RTID went into effect Oct. 1, it created a revenue stream for the RACVB for its marketing and advertising efforts to draw tourism to the area. Lodging businesses would pay a 2 percent assessment rate of all short-term room rental revenue, added onto room rates. Short-term is described as less than 30 days of occupancy.The board also welcomed 3 additional new members, who will be seated next month. Maturango Museum Exceutive Director Harris Brokke will serve as the general member. SpringHill Suites General Manager Dan Spurgeon and Econo Lodge Inn owner Ghanshyam Popat will represent larger establishments, while Aloha Motel manager Joshi Kishar will represent lodgings of 50 rooms or less.Fielding Muddy Revenue IdeasRidgecrest resident Tony Kim fielded an idea to the board about the possibility of the city opening itself up to hosting activities like the Tough Mudder mud run.Kim said Tough Mudder was a 10-12 mile obstacle race course that was pretty well organized.“The course was designed by British SAS, Britain’s special forces,” he said. Worldwide, it has garnered 700,000 participants and raised $5 million for Wounded Warrior.“Basically, everyone there was well organized and I when I saw the event, it was very thorough,” Kim said. “As a military officer, I pay attention to detail.”Kim made it clear he was at the meeting representing himself, not the military.He said his past experience with the event was the lack of hotel spaces, indicating that at one location, there were only a few hotels and already packed.“Why can’t you do this here where you have heads and beds?” he said, indicating the base and city could work together, as well as bringing the Bureau of Land Management on board.Peggy Shoaf, Public Relations officer for China Lake NAWS, indicated that she had already been apprised of the situation.Kim indicated that something like Tough Mudder could offer a great opportunity for Ridgecrest by establishing it as a center for outdoor excellence. He said the possibility existed that it could generate as much as $3.5 to $5 million in revenue for the community, between stores, hotels and restaurants.Ridgecrest Vice Mayor Pro Tem Jason Patin praised the idea.“To me these are things that we look for as a city,” Patin said. “When I hear about something that could potentially bring in $3.5-$5 million over a weekend, I automatically perk up.”